How to Make a Stunning Christmas Mantel Garland

Learn how to make your fireplace sparkle this holiday season with these beautiful Christmas mantel garland ideas.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, While they looked drab and not fab, with no mantel flair!

While those may not be the exact words of that familiar poem, the sentiments are pretty accurate. Who wants to look at an ugly fireplace mantel hiding behind their Christmas stockings? Let that holiday mantel in your living room really sparkle this December with a beautiful Christmas mantel display.

As the stunning star of the show each Christmas season, your Christmas tree has to look amazing each year. But what most people forget is that the next runner up is your fireplace mantel.

And as fun as decorating a tree is, there is something peaceful about sitting near a cozy fireplace decked out in your favorite holiday decor. Help those stockings really shine this year with some neutral Christmas mantel decor ideas.

Don't have a fireplace mantel to embellish? Keep going to the bottom of this post for more ideas.

Creating a Stunning Christmas Mantel Garland

In order to create a beautiful mantel for this time of year, you'll want choose something that reflects your personal style. This can be anything from a classic look to a colored theme. It's important to have a variety of Christmas mantel decorations, no matter what you choose.

Christmas Mantel Decor Ideas

Before we get into creating an elegant Christmas mantel garland, let's go over some options of what you can use for embellishing this area:

• Fresh greenery
• Faux foliage or greenery
• Pine cones or holiday branches
• Candle holders
• Mini trees - depending on size
• Lanterns - this could be a great DIY option
• Vases
• Mirrors
• Frames or vintage signs
• Fake snow
• A Christmas village
• Christmas string lights or fairy lights

Pick Neutral Colors for Christmas Mantel Garland

First up, a great way to create an elegant focal point on your mantel is by opting for a neutral scheme as your base. While there is definitely an element of bold and beautiful in a Christmas color palette, neutral tones are ideal for a classic and natural look. The best way to incorporate a pop of color is with simple accents after your base is complete.

A natural or earthy color scheme is stunning. For our festive Christmas mantel, I chose to use a selection of white, green and gold hues. The light wood tones also help to emphasize natural elements which make it look more authentic.

Garland and Greenery Base

When you know your color scheme, now you can proceed with the different types of garlands. Garland is one of my favorite things for the top of the mantel. Luckily there are several options for picking out your own garland. Here are a few different kinds:

• Faux greenery garland
• Classic green garland
• Leaf garland
• Garland with berries
• Tinsel garland
• Bead garland
• Flower garland
• Pom pom garland - you can make your own here!
• Wood garland
• Paper garland

Choose what type of garland you like for your base layer. I used pine and Norfolk. Real garland is my personal favorite, but it can be messy so instead I went with higher quality real touch garlands that can be reused. These are authentic looking evergreen garland even though they are fake.

I used pine garland on the bottom of the mantel, then added two Norfolk garlands over the top. Layering these garlands helps to flow over the edge and span the length of the mantel.

Next, I added a eucalyptus garland for additional greenery. Layering different varieties of green leaves will bring needed texture. Dried Baby's Breath will add just a touch of white decor to break up the monotony of the green.

Any type of winter branch could also be a great addition to fill your garland if you don't have as many greenery garlands to use.

There are plenty of beautiful varieties for a faux garland or garlands out of different items or textures. Don't be afraid to try artificial if you don't have access to a real one. And layering in different types is also really fun!

I like to extend this look throughout our main level for more fluidity in the living area. Similar garlands are used on my staircase banister. An easy way to attach garland to your banister is by wrapping it around or using cord bundlers. I usually tie on a ribbon also to add a festive feel.

How to Attach Your Greens

To attach your garland and greenery to the mantel, one option that I use are command strip cord bundlers. While there are different ways to secure your garland, these work well and are easy to hide in the garland. Removable hooks may be another great idea.

I also used command cord bundlers to hang the bells in my garland.

And don't forget to add your stocking holders. These will be hidden under the garland.

Light Color Accents

It's always a good idea to incorporate some light color accents into your design. As I was really going for subtle decorative items, adding bows in light colors was just the festive touch of texture that was needed. The moss green ribbon and vintage gold ribbon add variety to the different hues in this stunning garland.

To draw the focal point up, I added a light green bow to the mirror as well. If you want to leave your garland up throughout all of the winter holidays, consider using a neutral color or place your ribbon in a way that is easy to swap out.

Another option instead of bows or ribbon could be bead strands or additional colored flowers. Any of these Christmas accents will make a beautiful addition.

Simple Accessories for Christmas Mantel Decorations

Extravagant decorations can be ideal for a bold Christmas mantel. But sometimes a simple look can be the best for a style that is more subtle and neutral.

The large mirror over the fireplace adheres to the natural elements and coloring of the wood tones. It also makes the room look much larger than it is. If you don't have a mirror, a large sign is another simple way to emphasize the space.

Neutral golden candlesticks with modern black candles are beautifully displayed at different heights.

I chose to offset the garland to the side instead of centering it on the mantel. The gold bells add a gorgeous pop of color and are a wonderful focal point.

And to top it off I added twinkle lights for a little extra shine.

Don't have a fireplace mantel to showcase? There is more than one way to create a great focal point in your living room. Adding stockings is a great way to bring in a texture or touch of color.

Faux fur stockings help to add an elegance. While crocheted stockings break up and add a new texture. You can also see ideas on how I decorated my Christmas mantel garland last year.

Your mantel is the focal point of your living space, and this Christmas season is the perfect time to get creative and decorate it! Whether you’re a fan of traditional red and green decorations or love to mix it up with unique and personalized garlands, there are endless possibilities for sprucing up your mantel.

From evergreen foliage and LED lights to snowflakes and paper cutouts, you can find ways to combine these fun and festive elements to make your mantel sparkle and shine! This holiday season, enjoy creating your very own neutral Christmas mantel garland.

Happy Decorating!

Brooke